LiDAR Beam Director with Tiltable Diffraction Grating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spatial profiling systems face challenges in maximizing the utilization of aperture size for directing light in multiple angles or directions, leading to reduced received power and mechanical stability issues when steering light sources.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a light source with time-varying attributes, an angularly dispersive element with tiltable diffraction gratings, and a beam director that spatially directs outgoing light through overlapping apertures to maximize aperture utilization, allowing for efficient light direction in multiple dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If light is directed through multiple angles using separate optical paths, then spatial profiling coverage is improved, but aperture utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a second dimension (vertical angle via diffraction grating tilt) to the traditional horizontal angular scanning, enabling two-dimensional angular coverage through a single shared aperture. This allows the system to profile spatial environments in multiple directions simultaneously without requiring separate optical paths for each angle, thus maintaining high aperture utilization while expanding spatial coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The single aperture serves multiple functions by directing light at different wavelengths through different angular paths using the diffraction grating. The aperture is shared across all angular directions and wavelength channels, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated apertures while maintaining the ability to profile environments in various directions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical steering of light sources is used to change direction, then angular coverage is improved, but mechanical stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical steering of light sources with an optical diffraction mechanism. Instead of physically moving light sources or mirrors to change scanning angles, the system uses a diffraction grating that angularly disperses light based on wavelength. The grating can be tilted to change the vertical scanning angle, providing mechanical stability while achieving angular coverage through optical physics rather than mechanical repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the angle parameter optically through diffraction grating tilt rather than through mechanical repositioning of light sources. By adjusting the grating tilt angle, the vertical scanning angle is changed while maintaining the stability of the overall mechanical structure, avoiding the instability associated with moving entire light source assemblies.
3Measurement precision
If beam size is reduced to improve angular resolution, then spatial precision is improved, but received power deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the angular resolution function into two dimensions: horizontal angular resolution is achieved through wavelength-based diffraction (spectral resolution), while vertical angular resolution is achieved through grating tilt. This separation allows the beam size to be optimized for power collection without sacrificing angular precision in either dimension, as the precision comes from optical dispersion rather than tight beam confinement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances signal-to-noise ratio for longer-range detection, improves spatial estimation accuracy, and reduces power consumption by minimizing beam divergence and mechanical complexity.
Implementation Method 1
an angularly dispersive element including one or more diffraction gratings adjustably tiltable to direct the outgoing light along a second dimension
Implementation Method 2
sending light into an environment in a specific direction and detecting any light reflected back from that direction
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~1C
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a system and method for facilitating estimation of a spatial profile of an environment based on a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) based technique. In one arrangement, the present disclosure facilitates spatial profile estimation based on directing light over one dimension, such as along the vertical direction. In another arrangement, by further directing the one-dimensionally directed light in another dimension, such as along the horizontal direction, the present disclosure facilitates spatial profile estimation based on directing light in two dimensions.